Macarthur's Argument On Freedom In Christ

Freedom in Christ
Here in chapter 5, Paul exhorts the converts to remember the Christ has brought freedom from the rigors of the laws demands in order to attain a standing of righteousness. He tells them to “stand firm” because of the freedoms established though faith in Christ. Paul hopes that they will understand that they have been delivered from the curse of the law that brings condemnation as it reveals the standards of holiness. Therefore, he encourages them to stand firm on what they know of their salvation. MacArthur writes, “Stay where you are, Paul asserts, because of the benefit of being free from law and the flesh as a way of salvation and the fullness of blessings by grace.” Bruce notes, “To consent to such bondage afresh
6). It does not make a difference at all. Paul did not oppose the act of circumcision, except as it was a condition of salvation. This is why Paul clearly delineates the purpose merits of law as those things that are uphold by the believers, namely the morality aspects compared to the legalistic, self-righteous works conditions that provide justification from God. Bruce notes, “Once Paul had relied on these and other forms of legal obedience for his justification before God: now he had found a more excellent way. But if, as those people maintained, “justification were through the law, then Christ died for nothing (Gal. 2:21); in fact, if the law were still in force… the age of the Messiah had not yet dawned…” Any adherence to the Mosaic Law renders all the Christ had done valueless since the law beckons to be above all since it prevents the full reign of Christ in the life of a believer from being fully realized. But Paul caps his argument that the only thing that mattered was “faith working through love” (v. 6). Through this kind of faith, genuine love is lived out in anticipation of the return of Christ. Love is so powerful that Paul even goes on to note that Christian freedom is built on love because it has fulfilled the whole law (v. 14). Christians are to love one another and thought the working of the Spirit; they will exemplify the sacrificial love of Christ. Christians are called to freedom in Christ and to exalt Him through love and service to others. The law has no power over this kind of love. Paul’s view of the law found that it could not fulfill the greatest victory which it prophesied about from the time of the Prophets. The law could not produce a righteous love that contained a genuine burden for people to worship God without structure or rituals. The law could only point the